An equally brilliant visual representation of social distancing’s kick in the gut appeared this spring along Mississippi Street, on a hillside hobbit hovel that became known as “love garage” thanks to anonymous artists who over the past decade splashed its doors with colorful, cursive inscriptions of “love” and “love more,” along with a sky-blue interlude of “Risk for Adventure.”
The simple messages gained prominence alongside the rise of social media selfies, and a generation of Jayhawks used the backdrop near Memorial Drive for their engagement photos and other announcements of young love and hopeful spirits.
As the doors yet again fell into disrepair, owners Deb Spencer, c’75, g’79, and Susan Davis last year hired a carpenter to tear them down. The sturdy new whitewashed doors remained gleamingly unadorned … and, vaguely, disappointing. Pristine is not always perfect.